6th National Peace Conference Commences in Hosanna: Religious Leaders Call for Unity Against Digital Misinformation

By Habtamu Abrdew Beture

HOSANNA, Ethiopia – Religious and government leaders convened in Hosanna on February 11 for the 6th National Peace Conference Organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE),  under a singular, urgent banner: fostering national unity and shielding the next generation from the corrosive effects of digital misinformation. The conference serves as a critical junction for the country’s diverse spiritual pillars to address the modern threats to stability.

The emotional core of the opening sessions was the address by Like Tiguhan Kesis Tagay Tadele, Secretary General of the IRCE. Speaking to a packed assembly, he warned of the "digital world’s" potential to dismantle social fabric.

"Social media must be a bridge for connection, not a wall of separation," Kesis Tagay declared. "We are seeing it become a breeding ground for malice and deep-seated hatred. Our youth were created to build history and change the world, not to surrender their peace to the lies of the internet."

The Secretary General issued a stirring call to action, urging religious leaders to remain steadfast in their role as "pillars of peace." He emphasized that the sanctity of worship and the safety of the faithful depend entirely on the stability of the nation, making peace-building a primary spiritual duty.

The event was graced by H.E. Dr. Endashaw Tassew, President of the Central Ethiopia Regional State. In his keynote message, he echoed the Church’s long-standing teachings on the dignity of the human person, asserting that there are no "secondary citizens" in the eyes of the state.

"We have worked tirelessly to create a landscape where every Ethiopian is treated equally," Dr. Endashaw stated, noting that the country is transitioning into a phase of "consolidating and expanding sustainable peace."

In a gesture reminiscent of Pope Francis’s calls for "care for our common home," the delegates transitioned from policy discussions to the soil. After touring development projects in Hosanna, the religious fathers and government officials planted seedlings together.

This act was presented as a living symbol of a shared future rooting the abstract concepts of "peace" and "unity" into the physical earth of the Central Ethiopia Regional State.

The 6th National Peace Conference drew its strength from the unified presence of Ethiopia’s seven major religious institutions, which collectively represent approximately 97% of the nation's population.

This diverse coalition of faith includes: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC), The Ethiopian Catholic Church (ECC), The Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE), The Ethiopian Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDAC), The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), The Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC)

As the conference concludes on February 12, the focus shifts toward the upcoming 7th National Election. The IRCE and the Peace and Security Bureau, represented by Mr. Temesgen Kassa, issued a joint statement expressing gratitude for the smooth conduct of the summit and calling on all stakeholders to ensure the upcoming elections are rooted in the same spirit of brotherhood seen this week.

The conference is expected to culminate in a Joint Peace Declaration, a document that will serve as a roadmap for religious institutions to combat online extremism and promote a culture of truth across Ethiopia.